Young Rangers conserving the countryside

This year young people have been getting stuck into conservation work across the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, with two ‘Young Ranger’ groups up and running in the area.

Young Rangers is perfect for young people who want to learn more about the amazing landscape on their doorstep and don’t mind getting messy working and exploring in the great outdoors. The Young Ranger groups get involved in practical conservation work, wildlife surveying, visit ancient hillforts and enjoy recreational activities available to us locally.

The Clwydian Range Young Rangers group is based at Moel Famau and Loggerheads Country Park, and is open to young people aged 11 to 18. This group started in 2012, and past young rangers have continued to volunteer with the Countryside service as young adults with one now a member of staff. 

The Dee Valley Young started just over a year ago. Open to 11-16 year olds, this group have undertaken a wide range of activities working alongside some of our partner organisations and learning about the importance of the work taking place in the Valley.

Young Rangers helping the Canal and Rivers Trust with some cutting back at the Llangollen Mooring Basin.  This was then rewarded with an afternoon of canoeing on the canal!

A very cold morning was spent helping the Llangollen Heritage Railway clear vegetation from the railway embankment. This will allow passengers to enjoy a view of the River Dee.  In the afternoon they were kindly given a tour of the working railway sheds in Llangollen by volunteer, Bob Jacques.

Young Rangers have worked on Coed Pen y Pigyn near Corwen which we manage in partnership with Natural Resource Wales. They take out invasive tree species and coppice others to help bring the woodland back into a good condition.  They also practice their bush craft skills and explore the area.

Ros Stockdale, Community Partnership Officer for the AONB in the Dee Valley said “It’s great to get young people out into the countryside learning new skills and about the area that they live in. We have a great summer of events coming up where we’ll hopefully encounter some of the amazing wildlife we have here”

If you would like more information about our Young Ranger Groups, please contact: -

Clwydian Range group:  Rachel Jones - 01824 712747 - rachel.jones@denbighshire.gov.uk

Dee Valley group:  Ros Stockdale - 01824 712794 - ros.stockdale@denbighshire.gov.uk